Does your pet have an allergy? The most common sign in dogs and cats is itchy skin. Sometimes this can lead to face rubbing, hair loss, scratching/biting/chewing the skin and excessive grooming. However, not all itchy skin equals an allergy.
So, how does one know if their pet truly has an allergy? First, Dr. Brown will eliminate all other possible causes of itching (e.g. infection by fleas/lice, bacterial or fungal infections). This usually includes an exam, complete history and some lab tests. She may recommend a special diet and food trial to eliminate a food allergy. When all of these other causes of itching can be excluded, Dr. Brown may diagnose your pet with an allergy.
“That’s just great”, you may say. How in the world did my pet get allergies? Your pet inherited this ability from its parents. After being exposed to the offending allergen for months or years, your pet will start showing signs. The beginning signs of allergy appear during the first 2 to 4 years of life.
Now that you know, what are you going to do? There are different ways in which allergies can be treated. We are excited to inform you that we offer allergy specific testing!! Dr. Brown will discuss various treatments with you based on the needs of your pet. Please call for pricing and information.
-the team at VAC-
